The Forrest City times., 1887-12-03
CHAPTER II.

BLACK DOG APPEARS AND DIsAPPEARs.
 Itwas not very long after this that there oc- cured tie first of the mysterious events that rid us at last of the captain, though not, as yoa will see, of his affairs. 1t was a bkter cold winter, with long. hard frosts and heavy gales; and it was plain from tho first that my poor father was littie likely to see the spring. He sank daily, and my mother and had all the inn upon our hands; and were kept busy enough without paying much regard to our unpleasant guest
 IL was one January morning, very carly |, piuching, frosty mOrning-the cove all gray with hoar-frost, the ripple tapping soft ly on the stones. the sun still low, and only touching the hilltops and shining far to sea- ward. The captain had risen earlier than usual, and set out down the beach, his cut lass swinging under the broad skirts of tho old blue coat, his brass telescope under his arm, his hat tilted back upon his head. remember his breath hanging like smoke in his wake as he str5de of, and the last sound l heard of him as he turned the biz rock, was a loud snort of indignation, as though his mind was still rnnnlng upon Dr. Live sey.
 Well, mother was upstairs with father; and was laying the breakfaSt-table agains. the captains return, when tha parlor door opened, and man stepped in on whom had never set my eyes before. He was pale, talowy creature, wanting two fingers Of the left hand; ard, though he wore cut lass. he did not look muc. like q fighter. had always my eye open for seafaring men, with one leg or two, and 1 remember this one puzzled me. He was not sallorly, and yet he had a smack of sea about him too.
 l asked him what was for his service, and he said he would take rum; but as 1 was go ing out of the room to fetch it he sat down upon table. aud motloned to me to draw near. paused where was with my nap kin in my hand.
 Come here, sonny" says he. Come nearer here"
 1 took a step nearer.
 ''Is this here table for my mate, Bill?' he asked with a kind of leer.
 I told him did not know his mate, Bill; and this was for a person who stayed Tn our house, whom we cs He'd the captain.
 Well" said he, my mate Bill would be called the captain, as like as not He has cut on one cheek. and mighty pleasant way with him. particularly in drink, has my mate, Bll. We'll put it, for argument like, thai your captain has cut on one check and we'll put it, if you like, that that cheeks the right one. An, welll told you. Now, Is my mate Bill in this here house"
 1 told him he was ont walking.
 (Which way, sonny Which way has he goneg
 And when had pointed out the rock and told him how the captain was likely to re- turn, and how soon, and answered few other questions, An" said he. "this'll be as good as drink to my mate Bill
 The expression of his face as he said these words was not at all pleasant, and l had my own reasons for thinking that the stranger was mistaken. even supposing he meant what he said. BUt it was no affair of mine 1 thought; and, besides, it was difficult to know what to do. The stranger kept hang. Irg about just inside the inn door, peerlng round the corner like & cat waiting for a mouse. Once l stepped out myself into the road, but he immediately called me back, and as did not obey quick enough for his fancy. most horrible change came over his face, and he ordered me in, with an oath that made me jump.
 As soon as I was back again he returned to his former manner, half yawning, hall sneeFing. patted me on the shoulder, told me 1 was a good boy, and he had taken quite A fancy 70 me. Il have son of my own" said he. "as like you as two blocks. and he's all the pride of my 'art. But the great thing for boys is discipline, sonny discipline. Now. il you had sailed along of BlI. you wouldn't have stood there to be spake 10 twee-uot you. That was never BiFs way, nor the way Of sieh as sailed with him. And here, sure enough, is my mate Bill, with aspy-giass under his arm, bless his old art Co pe sure. You and me'ii just go back into the parl1r sonny, and get behind the door, and ven give Bill little surprise-bless hs 'arl, ] say again"
 So saying. ihe sAan-eg b1eked along with me lnto she psrieF eia Vas ne behind Alm ga Be eagaes, Co sAsg sa wsls essa Assses es tss sssa aask Fts ssEs sasssf sse